Cut-out insulator



T. BAILEY CUT -OUT INSULATOR Dec. 13, 1927.

Filed June 19, 1925 Patented lilec. 13, 1927.

' UNITED STATES THOMAS BAILEY, OF CHRISTCHURCH, CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND.

CUT OUT INSULA'IOR.

Application filed June 19, 1925.

This invention relates to cut-out insulators of theknown type wherein aplug fitted with contact terminals and a fuse, is inserted in a bodyportion in order to electrically connect with each other terminalcontacts, to which the ends of an electric line are connected.

The present invention provides an improved cut-out insulator of the typementioned, the special objects being to provide a cut-out insulator,wherein the plug or fuse iarrier is positively and securely held in thebody portion by means other than the en gagement of the contacts witheach other, and also wherein the means for securing the plug in the bodyportion are such that the plug may be operated to an extent suliicientto break or open the circuit and to avoid arcing, with out removing theplug from said body portion.

The invention is especially directed to insulators used on overhead workout of doors, although with modifications, it may be applied to switchboards and elsewhere.

The improved insulator comprises a circular and hollon body portion,closed. at the top and open at the bottom, and provided with anextension by means of which it is enabled to be secured to a pole arm orthe like.

A circular plug adapted to be inserted in the body portion, is providedwith a screw threaded stem, which enters and screws into a screwthreaded upper recess in the body portion, for the purpose of positivelyand securely holding the plug in the body portion,

and also of maintaining contact terminals on the plug, connected witheach other by a fuse, in engagement with contact terminals secured inthe body portion, and electrically connected with. the ends of anelectric line, in order that the latter will be closed.

l 'l hen used for outdoor over head work the body portion is providedwith tangential holes through which the line ends are connected with thecontact terminals in the body portion, while the plug is formed at itslower end so that, if necessary, it may be turned in the body portion bymeans of a suitable tool, operated from the ground, to break, or toclose an electric circuit as required.

In the accompanying drawing, in conjunction with which the inventionwill be more particularly described,

Figure 1 is a plan view, and

Figure '2 an elevation of the improved insulator,

Serial No. 38,353.

Figure 3 being a plan view, and

Figure 4: an elevation of the plug, while Figure, 5 is a verticalsection of the body portion only on the line A-A Figure l. and,

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view on the line B-B Figure 5.

The insulator comprises a hollow body portion 1, circular in plan andprovided at one side of its upper end with an extension 2, containing ahole 2, through which the insulator may be secured, by a U bolt, strap,OIhOlJlIQlTSUltEtblG means to a pole arm or elsew ere.

About midway of its height, the body portion 1 is provided atdiametrically opposite points with tangential holes 3 which open intothe interior of the body portion, and also through the outer surfacethereof, while a horizontal groove i, is formed in and right around theouter surface of the body portion 1, and the extension 2.

A plug 5 having a lower handle portion 5 is provided with a screwthreaded stem 6 adapted to be screwed into an upper central and screwthreaded recess 7 in the body por tion for the purpose of holding theplug 5 securely Within the latter.

The plug 5 has formed on the upper end of the handle portion 5 upwardprojections or blocks 8 integral with said handle and located atdiametrically opposite points thereon, said projections or blocks 8having screwed thereon by screws and nuts 9 passing through the latter,contact terminals 10 shaped to conform to the curve of the plug 5.

tech contact terminal. 10 consists of a strip of suitable conductingmetal, doubled and bent to pass vertically down one side of a projectionor block 8, and to incline upwards from and over the latter, theunderneath portion of the doubled strip having an upturned end 10whereas the upper portion of said doubled strip is designed to serve asa spring member and has an upward projection or rib 2O thereon.

The interior of the body portion 1 is provided at the top with downwardprojections or blocks 11, the latter being integral with the bodyportion 1 and at diametrically opposite points therein, and alsoopposite the tangential holes 3.

Each projection or block 11 has secured to its vertical side facing ahole 3, a terminal 12, the latter consisting of a socket, from whichthere projects downwards a contact 13 having an upturned end 13, andshaped to conform to the curve of the body 1, said contact 13 alsohaving a recess 21 in its under side.

Each terminal 12 and contact 13 is secured to a projection or block 11by a screw li passed through the terminal 12 and projection or block 11,and entered in a nut 15 at the opposite side of said block and preventedfrom turning by a rib 16 thereon, while the screw 141 is tightened orscrewed up, by means of a screw driver or other suitable tool, insertedin the hole 3, and terminal 12. Each terminal 12 is also provided with ascrew 17 for securing the bored end of a wire therein.

In use the contact terminals 10 of the plug 5 are connected with eachother by a fuse wire 18, and the bared ends of a line 19 are passed onethrough each of the holes 3 in the body portion 1 and inserted in theterminals 12 of the latter, where they are secured by the screws 17,access to the latter being had through the open bottom of the bodyportion 1.

If the insulator is being used in connection with the junction 01 abranch line with a main line, an end of the tap oil" from the latter ispassed in through one hole 3, and secured in a terminal 12, while thebranch line, after being looped around the groove 4 of the insulator andsecured thereto so that the latter takes the strain of the branch, hasits end passed inwards through the otherhole 3 and secured in theterminal 12 opposite same, the wire ends for connection to the terminals12, being in all cases secured therein before the plug 5 is inserted inthe body portion 1.

The plug 5 with the :liuse 18 thereon is then screwed upwards into thebody portion 1 until the contact terminals 10 engage the contacts 13,see dotted portion (Figure the turned up ends 10 of the former whenengaging the terminals 13, acting as stops and preventing furtherturning movement of the plug 5 in the body portion 1, once propercontact has been established. between said contact tern'iinals 10 andthe contacts 13. Further, upon the contact terminals 10 properlyengaging the contacts 13, the ribs or projections 20 enter or springinto the recesses 21 and provide a slight lock be tween said contactterminals 10 and the con tacts 13.

The contact terminals 10 and fuse 18 there fore bridge or connect thecontacts 13, and complete the electrical line through the insulator.

The handle 5 or lower portion of the plug 5, is made square or flatsidedto lit into a correspondingly formed socket secured on a pole by meansof which the )lug 5 can be screwed into, or out of the Jody portion 1,

The screw thread on the spindle 6 is made quick acting, so as to ensureclean and sharp making and breaking or closing and opening of thecircuit by the movement of the contact terminals 10, said thread beingformed with a pitch so that approximately one complete turn of the plug5 will ensure a clean break, thus preventing arcing.

Also by making the stem 6 long enough, and the recess 7, to suit, it ispossible to unscrew the plug 5 a distance su'liicient to prevent arcingacross the contacts without removing the plug 5 from the body portion,thereby enabling the cut out to be operated. in the case 01 overheadinsulators, from the ground by means of a tool of suliicient length, andwithout ren'ioving the plug 5 from the body portion 1.

The body portion 1 and plug 5 are formed of any suitable nonconductingmaterial, preferably porcelain, while the contacts and terminals fittedthereto are of copper, brass, or other suitable conducting material.

\Vhat I do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent 01 the UnitedStates of America is 1. A cut-out insulator oi the character describedincluding a partially hollow body portion provided with an inwardlyGXiCIltling screw threaded recess communicating with the hollow portion,a screw threaded plug "for adjustable engagement with the recess andhaving a handle, and opposed contact terminals projecting laterally fromthe plugs and hollow body portion, and positioned so that upon. therotation of the handle theterminals on the plug will either engage ordisengage the terminals in the body portion, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. A. cut-out insulator according to claim 1 wherein opposed blocks areformed integral with the plug and hollow body portion and have the plugand body portion contact terminals secured tl'icrelo.

3. A cut-out insulator according to claim 1 wherein the plug contactterminals comprise doubled strips of metal 'torming a vertical attachingportion and a laterally can tending portion curved to conform to theshape of the plug, the upper lateral portion of each doubled stripconstituting a spring member while the lower lateral portion has one endupturned to form a stop when engaging a contact terminal in the bodyportion.

In testimony whereof I alliz; my signature.

THOMAS PAILEY.

